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BRAZIL DEFEATS U.S. IN NAILBITER

Despite taking a 2 - 0 lead, the U.S. men's soccer team was unable to hold off a strong Brazilian side. Final score: Brazil 3, U.S. 2, and an outstanding game by both teams.

Coming up July 4 - the start of the Tour de France with Tour winners Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador both riding for Team Astana. Watch for a great race between these two - a race within the race. Will Lance be relegated to domestique?

AMERICA'S MIRACLE ON GRASS

The U.S. men's soccer team achieved their greatest victory by defeating Spain 2 - 0 in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa. The U.S. advanced to its first men's FIFA final since starting play in 1916.

Spain is the European champion and plays with a great deal of skill, speed, and teamwork. However, the Americans combined their improved skills with outstanding goaltending and athleticism, and a strategy known as "packing the box."

After Jozy Altidore scored the first goal, the U.S. put up a wall of defenders in the 18 yard box to protect their lead. Holding off the strong Spanish team was no small task, but the American squad carried out their game plan to perfection.

They should savour this victory. This is not North American football, baseball, basketball, or even hockey...Canada's game ; ). This is the world's most popular sport. It is known as the "beautiful game," and on this day the U.S. team showed they belong among the best.

Will the U.S. employ the same strategy against the spectacular Brazil team in the final?

HEALTH MINISTER SUPPORTS CHOICE

New B.C. Health Minister Kevin Falcon says "choice is a good thing," for British Columbians seeking health care. In the face of the oncoming tsunami of aging baby boomers, Falcon is supporting a patient's right to seek treatment in private clinics.

Falcon said: "I don't have an objection for people using their own money to buy private services just as they do with dentists, just as they do with other decisions they make — you know sending their kids to private school or what have you. I think choice is a good thing, actually — reducing choice I don't think is a good thing."

Canadian baby boomers are already using their own funds to access hip surgeries and cancer treatment in the U.S., India and other countries. Many will not risk a deteriorating health condition by waiting in line in Canada's antiquated, inefficient public health care system. The numbers seeking care outside the country will only increase and the province will lose important dollars, invested in health care, that could be spent in BC.

Falcon makes the point that public and private education operate side by side without difficulty. So why should health care be different?

One of the hurdles is the federal Canada Health Act, where the feds control funding to provinces. Perhaps Falcon is the guy to step up to this challenge...and work on behalf of patients instead of bureaucrats.

CONFEDERATIONS CUP...IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING

In case you were wondering how the teams were chosen to play in FIFA's Confederations Cup in South Africa. They are Hosts - South Africa; Euro 2008 winners - Spain; 2006 World Cup winners - Italy; South American champions - Brazil; Asian Cup winners - Iraq; Oceania champions - New Zealand; CONCACAF champions - USA; and African Cup winners - Egypt.

Spain is playing spectacular soccer, individually, and as a team. Dare we hope for a Spain vs Brazil final?

CAMPBELL LEADS EI REFORM

BC Premier Gordon Campbell is leading the West's demand to reduce the number of Employment Insurance regions from 58 to 3. The new plan consists of urban, rural and remote regions. Unemployed Canadians in remote areas would have easier access to EI than those in rural areas, who in turn would have easier access than those in urban centres. The concept recognizes that those in remote and rural communities have greater difficulty finding work. It also recognizes that Canadians in the remote and rural communities provide the resources for the urban centres to function. This initiative is long overdue.

DETROIT AND MANITOBA GET IT RIGHT

On the heels of Judge Redfield Baum's do nothing decision re: the Phoenix Coyotes, Canadian hockey advocate and entrepreneur Jim Balsillie was in Winnipeg to receive an International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from the University of Manitoba.

Meanwhile, the NHL and Commissioner Gary Bettman have a bankrupt hockey team in the middle of the desert, and creditors rightfully want to know how and when they are going to get paid.

To top it off, the NHL's Commissioner can't seem to make an appearance without being greeted by a chorus of boos by hockey fans that know and love the game...as Detroit fans did during Bettman's presentation of the Stanley Cup.

Is the NHL's Board of Governors comatose or what?

NO HARD FEELINGS...

Premier Gordon Campbell graciously agreed to open and welcome the Canadian Federation of Nurses' Union convention on June 10 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

This is despite the fact the BC Nurses Union worked long and hard to remove Campbell from office, including donating large sums to the NDP. BC's nurses donated a quarter of a million dollars to the NDP in the 2005 election...and lost. And they lost again on May 12 of this year. This is the same group complaining they are always underpaid....

Still, as far as Campbell is concerned, no hard feelings. If the BC Nurses Union wants to continue putting their money on a loser, that's their business. But it's tough to argue they are hard done by when they have plenty to throw away on political battles.

And give somebody at the union credit for a sense of humour - inviting Nelson Rockefeller to BC's equivalent of a Marxist-Leninist Convention... ; )
Addendum: Campbell's new Minister of Health is Kevin Falcon - also known as Mr. Deregulation. Is this the introduction of private health care and therefore more choice and accessibility to accomodate a vastly increasing seniors population? We can only hope. The existing taxpayer-funded closed shop is crumbling...and will continue to do so without private capital.

PENGUINS WIN IT ALL

Pittsburgh Penguins centre Maxime Talbot scored two goals, giving the Penguins a triumphant 2-1 win over the defending champion Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 in Detroit. Goalie Marc-André Fleury came up big for Pittsburgh, while Detroit's much vaunted defence gave up the puck twice and paid the price. That said, the game and the series could have gone either way. Both teams played exceptionally well.

If there is a loser, it's Marian Hossa, who left Pittsburgh and signed with Detroit after last year's loss, for the expressed purpose of winning a Stanley Cup. Hossa hitched a ride on the wrong train. He didn't show much during the series, then suffered through the handshake with his old teammates after Pittsburgh's win. What's next? Back to Pittsburgh?

DOES GAME 7 RIDE ON LAST LINE CHANGE?

The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins face-off Friday evening in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. All hockey fans have been hoping for a 7th game and now they've got it.

The Wings have more depth, but Pittsburgh can beat them when they play as hard as they did in Game 6. That said, the biggest factor for both teams has been home ice and the last line change. This gives the home coach the match-ups he wants and and for game 7 this advantage goes to Detroit's Mike Babcock. Pittsburgh will have to overcome a lack of home ice, an ocean of red, screaming Detroit fans, and the most skilled team in hockey. If Pittsburgh can accomplish this, they will surely deserve Lord Stanley's Cup - the greatest trophy in sports.

TWITTER NO FACEBOOK

A new study shows from Ipsos Reid shows that only 26% of online Canadians are aware of Twitter. Of those, 6% reported using the social networking tool. This only equates to 1.45% of the Internet population, or about one percent of the population as a whole. These are some of the findings from "Social Networking: 2009", a new study conducted and released by Ipsos Reid. Study author Mark Laver noted that while "Twitter gets a lot of press, and usage figures show impressive growth, when you look at its awareness and use among mainstream online Canadians, you get a completely different picture."

PREMIER CAMPBELL APPOINTS NEW NEW CABINET

Premier Gordon Campbell appointed a new cabinet today to focus on the economy, 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and emerging opportunities as Canada’s Pacific Gateway.

“Together, we will focus on B.C.’s priorities of building the economy, creating jobs and continuing to enhance critical services like health and education," said Campbell. "We will continue to work with B.C.’s First Nations to strengthen and build on our new relationship, which will create certainty and economic opportunity for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal British Columbians alike.”

Campbell said, “In just 247 days, B.C. and Canada will welcome the world for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This is an unprecedented opportunity to market our province and its people to the world, and create new growth right here in British Columbia. Our cabinet will work to take advantage of this opportunity and to continue building our province as Canada’s Gateway to the Asia Pacific."

MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Premier – Hon. Gordon Campbell;Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations – Hon. Naomi Yamamoto; Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation – Hon. George Abbott ;Advanced Education and Labour Market Development – Hon. Moira Stilwell; Agriculture and Lands – Hon. Steve Thomson; Attorney General – Hon. Mike de Jong; Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care – Hon. Mary Polak; Citizens’ Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism and the Public Affairs Bureau – Hon. Ben Stewart; Community and Rural Development – Hon. Bill Bennett; Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy – Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid; Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources – Hon. Blair Lekstrom; Minister of State for Mining – Hon. Randy Hawes; Environment – Hon. Barry Penner; Minister of State for Climate Action – Hon. John Yap; Finance and Deputy Premier – Hon. Colin Hansen; Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for the Integrated Land Management Bureau – Hon. Pat Bell; Health Services – Hon. Kevin Falcon; Healthy Living and Sport – Hon. Ida Chong; Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC – Hon. Mary McNeil ; Housing and Social Development – Hon. Rich Coleman ; Labour – Hon. Murray Coell; Public Safety and Solicitor General – Hon. Kash Heed; Small Business, Technology and Economic Development – Hon. Iain Black; Tourism, Culture and the Arts – Hon. Kevin Krueger; Transportation and Infrastructure – Hon. Shirley Bond

Parliamentary Secretaries

Parliamentary Secretary for the Asia-Pacific Initiative to the Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development - Richard T. Lee; Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism to the Minister of Citizens’ Services - Dave Hayer; Parliamentary Secretary for Pine Beetle Community Recovery to the Minister of Community and Rural Development - Donna Barnett; Parliamentary Secretary for the Ranching Task Force to the Minister of Agriculture and Lands - Terry Lake; Parliamentary Secretary for Silviculture to the Minister of Forests and Range - John Rustad; Parliamentary Secretary for Water Supply and Allocation to the Minister of Environment - John Slater

Additional appointments

Government house leader – Hon. Mike de Jong; Government deputy house leader – Hon. George Abbott

POP HOSSA BUT DON'T TOUCH SID

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Detroit Free Press are engaged in a web grudge match. At the Gazette, in a game called Two Face Takedown, an animated fist and Hossa face appear and readers have 20 seconds to pop him as many times as possible. We hear the record is 150 punches...yikes!

In the Free Press game called Don't Touch Sidney, an animated glove appears and when readers use it to touch Crosby, a ref shows up and blows his whistle.

Good fun, but we think they got it wrong. The games should be "Pop Bettman" And "Don't Touch Balsillie."

JUDGE HEARS PHOENIX CASE ON JUNE 9

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Redfield Baum will hear the Phoenix Coyotes case on Tuesday, June 9, and make a decision shortly thereafter. The Coyotes are losing more than $20 million a season, and have never turned a profit. Canadian entrepreneur Jim Balsillie has offered to buy the bankrupt team and move it to southern Ontario. However, his offer is being opposed by the NHL's Board of Governors and Commissioner Gary Bettman.

There is a great deal of speculation that Hamilton is the proposed destination. However, it would seem Toronto is also lacking a team...; )

PENGUINS MAKE IT A SERIES

The Penguins tied the Stanley Cup series with the Red Wings on Thursday at two games apiece, after Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby gave the Red Wings more than they could handle and Fleury stepped up when needed. The real indicator of a tired Red Wings squad was Pittsburg's Jordan Staal, not known for blazing speed, scoring shorthanded on a usually formidable Red Wings defence.

It's a new series. Has Coach Bylsma figured out the Red Wings? And how much difference will home ice and the last line change make in Detroit? Those questions will be answered on Saturday.

NHL FRANCHISE GOOD FOR REGION AND BUSINESS - POLL

More than 90 per cent of residents of Hamilton and the rest of Southern Ontario think a seventh NHL franchise located in that city would be a boost to the region's businesses and economy, a new survey shows.

The survey of residents of Hamilton and the Southern Ontario Region, including the GTA West, Peel and Halton, was commissioned by PSE Sports & Entertainment (PSE) and it found that a total of 94 per cent on average agree that an NHL franchise would be good for area businesses, and 96 per cent said the team would bring excitement to the region.

Is anyone on the NHL's Board of Governors listening to the people of Hamilton and Southern Ontario?

PENGUINS BATTLE BACK

Crosby predicted it in Detroit. He said that when they get to Pittsburgh, home ice advantage would give them the last line change, and Pittsburgh would capitalze. He was right. The series is now Detroit 2 and Pittsburgh 1.

Pittsburgh's Coach Bylsma is a strategist and used the final changes to his advanage. It didn't hurt that Fleury was solid, especially in the 2nd and 3rd periods, and the Penguins outshot the Wings 10 - 3 in the 3rd. Forechecking was key and Pittsburgh is making this a series, as they did when they were down 2-0 against Washington.

However, the game highlight was not on the ice. It was after the 1st period when Don Cherry pointed to an image of Mickey Mouse on his tie and called him Donald Duck....nice call.

BETTMAN vs CANADIANS

Ron MacLean's interview with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman revealed why Canadians detest the NHL's head honcho. His answers were disingenuous and crafted to throw Canadians off the scent of a new Canadian team in Southern Ontario.

"This is not about Phoenix vs Hamilton and Americans vs Canadians," said Bettman. The former is untrue. In fact, it IS about a failed bankrupt NHL franchise in Phoenix being propped up by an arrogant NHL Commissioner and Board of Governors, blocking a successful Canadian entrepeneur prepared to launch a new franchise in a Canadian city that's begging for a team. It's definitely Phoenix vs Hamilton.

As for the latter, it's true most Americans don't care about his issue.

It's not Americans vs Canadians, it's Bettman vs Canadians.

Dump Bettman, and MAKE IT SEVEN! See the interview here.

ALL BETTMAN, ALL THE TIME

This just in...the NHL's general managers met on Tuesday and voted against making hits to the head an automatic penalty. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "Player safety is of paramount safety to us, so that's not the issue."

Well, it is the issue. The Ontario Hockey League thinks so and made head shots an automatic penalty to protect their players.

These days the NHL and Bettman are simply not credible.

BRITISH "COLOMBIA" SAYS ECONOMIST

Respected international magazine The Economist is comparing British Columbia with Colombia, as a lawless haven for drug cartels and murderous gangs showing total disrespect for the law. The magazine says 135 gangs in BC are fighting over a drug business worth $7 billion a year.

Rob Gordon, a criminologist at Simon Fraser University, suggests special police agencies created to fight the gangs have failed due to conflicts among Greater Vancouver's multiple police forces.

But what The Economist didn't mention is the cause for this mess. The problem stems from a ridiculous number of municipalities in the Lower Mainland, about 20, and the refusal to entertain amalgamation by a bunch of tin pot mayors and councilors. They have put residents on the frontline of gang warfare, just so they can satisfy their egos and play at being big fish in small ponds. These officials get their voice in the province through the Union of BC Municipalties, whose policy it is to ignore the greater good so every NIMBY (not in my backyard) proponent can have their say.

So it doesn't look like the gang warfare in the Lower Mainland will dissipate anytime soon. On the other hand, Colombia is addressing their problem by increasing the concentration of police.

British "Colombia" should be so lucky. Read the Economist article here.

CROSBY vs RED WINGS

Pittsburgh Penguins are on the ropes against the Detroit Red Wings. Sidney Crosby is working hard and creating opportunies, but Sid and the rest of the team have got to step up and finish their chances. And despite Don Cherry's often questionable advice, "dump and chase" is not going to beat a team the calibre of the Red Wings. Detroit is showing itself again to be the best team in hockey, and not by just a bit.

But if Fleury steps up and has the big game he's capable of, and the Penguins can find Osgood's achilles heal...anything can happen. Stay tuned...

NHL GOVERNORS ARE OUT OF TOUCH

 Blackberry co-CEO and hopeful NHL franchise owner Jim Balsillie recently said in the National Post, "Not so long ago, the NHL said it was not considering locating another team in southern Ontario. That's fair enough. But since Canadians demonstrated this huge groundswell of support in recent weeks, the NHL has said it now believes southern Ontario is a good hockey market and can support another NHL franchise."

Balsillie is right. But it's also clear the NHL's Board of Governors is out of touch, lacks an of understanding of the hockey market - their business - and shows a lack of respect for Canadian hockey fans. And for that, they have their own arrogance and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to blame.

Time to smarten up, dump Bettman, and MAKE IT SEVEN! Read National Post story here.

A FOWL PLAYOFFS

 The Stanley Cup playoffs has been a fowl series indeed. First, the Duck/Wings, then the Hawk/Wings, and coming up...Penguin/Wings?

OPPAL DETHRONED BY INDEPENDENT

 Former Liberal cabinet minister Wally Oppal was dethroned this week by Independent candidate Vicki Huntington during a ballot recount in the riding of Delta South. Huntington won by 32 votes, however the result is still subject to a judicial review.

Huntington served five-terms as a local municipal councillor.

Many believe the Liberals lost due to an unpopular decision to build a high voltage power line through Tsawwassen to Vancouver Island.

Of course powerlines have to go somewhere and nobody wants them in their community. But it's all about how you manage the issue, and clearly this issue wasn't managed well. The BC Utilities Commission says much of the controversy “could have been avoided” if there had been earlier consultation and more consideration for alternatives for getting the line through Tsawwassen.

Once again, the spotlight shines on the government's bureaucrats and their reputation for inadequate consultation and poor communication skills.

TOUGH TIMES FOR AUTO INDUSTRY

General Motors is being kept alive by $15.4 billion from the U.S. government, and $3 billion in aid pledged by Canadian governments. Chrysler has received $5.8 billion in federal aid. Without these funds, they would be bankrupt and dissolved.

CAW President Ken Lewenza says a new contract with GM pegs GM's labour costs at $57 per hour, a reduction of $22 per hour.

$57 per hour? GM and Chrysler are no longer companies. They are very lucrative, government-funded employment programs.

SHOW US THE MONEY - NDP

NDP Leader Carole James failed to win the BC election with her ploy to give recent MLA pay raises to charity. Now that the election is over, and the NDP are once again in opposition, the charity gambit is no longer useful and now the NDP are saying, "Show us the money."

Ironically, James and the NDP are partly responsible for the 29 per cent increases, almost double what was recommended in 2005.

In 2005, both the Liberals and the NDP approved a 15 per cent pay increase. But when the public balked, James withdrew her support and the pay package was cancelled. Premier Gordon Campbell subsequently appointed an independent commission, which recommended the 29 per cent pay hike in 2007. James said the increase was excessive and promised the NDP would donate their increases to charity.

James reiterated this position during the election, but that was then and this is now. The NDP lost so...."show us the money - and make it double what was recommended in 2005." Very clever...almost like they planned it. ; )

BOWMAN VS BOWMAN

Who built the Detroit Red Wings dynasty? Scotty Bowman - 9 time Stanley Cup winner. Who left the Red Wings to become Special Advisor to the Chicago Blackhawks last season? You guessed it - Scotty. So Scotty is going to have to work hard to defeat himself during the upcoming games against Detroit.

WINGS THUMP HAWKS

Newfoundlander Dan Cleary buried two goals to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. From here, the Blackhawks look like last year's Pittsburgh Penguins - young, talented and inexperienced in the playoffs.

DUMP BETTMAN...AND MAKE IT SEVEN!

Jim Balsillie is a hockey playing Canadian who wants to move a bankrupt franchise from the American south to one of many Canadian cities clamouring for a team. Gary Bettman is a former administrator for the NBA trying to prevent this from happpening. Dump Bettman...and www.makeitseven.ca

CANUCKS IN SOLID SHAPE

Despite the Vancouver Canucks' loss to a red hot Chicago Blackhawks team, the Canucks remain in solid shape for next year. All of the talk about trading top NHL goalie Roberto Luongo is nonsense, written by sports journalists who are paid to generate rumours.

The bottom line is the most important player on the ice is the last guy back protecting the goal. That guy can win a lot of games for a team and Luongo did exactly that during the season. Much of the credit for even making the playoffs is due to Luongo, because the Canucks are a low-scoring team and he gave us a lot of low-scoring wins.

So let's put a lid on the whiskey talk and instead focus on re-signing our top talent, shoring up the defense to help out Luongo, and finding a top finisher to put more pucks in the net.

CAROLE JAMES TO "REFLECT" ON FUTURE

NDP Leader Carole James says she will "reflect" over the next few weeks on whether she will continue to lead the NDP after her second consecutive defeat to Gordon Campbell's Liberals. What this really means in BC politics lingo is James will meet with BC's top union brass to discover if they will fund the next NDP campaign with James as leader. If they refuse support, James is gone and an NDP leadership convention is imminent.

BC VOTERS CHOOSE STATUS QUO

BC voters granted Gordon Campbell and his Liberals a third consecutive majority government on Tuesday. It was a clear message that now was not the time to risk a change in leadership or direction. BC'ers are concerned with the impact of the global economic crisis and Campbell is viewed as the best manager of BC's economy.

It was a clear choice between a free enterprise or socialist government, and voters, once again, chose free enterprise. It is also likely that the NDP's abysmal performance of the 1990's is still burned ino the memories of many voters.

The STV system of voting was defeated for a second time, delivering another clear message that voters prefer the status quo system of "first past the post."